Aja Lapus

Month: September 2008

  • Deprecated HTML Still Taught in High Schools

    I was asked for help by my good friend to assist her nephew on his Web page design project. I first asked him what lessons they have discussed in school, so I could match the level of what the teacher taught to what we would be doing. As usual, it included <html>, <head>, and <body> elements, as well as the tables, anchors, images and lists. I was just disappointed when he said they still use <font> tags for changing the size and color of text, and use the <body> attributes background and bgcolor for placing background images and color on the page.

    Of course, as a standardista, I hated the fact that I am forced to use deprecated elements and attributes on Web pages. So, I decided to make a statement on this blog hoping to be heard (or read) by computer, web design, and web development teachers in any level of education.

    Please, please update yourself on what you know and teach about Web design. HTML 3.2, which you are teaching your depolama students, has been replaced by HTML 4.01 almost 9 years ago. That, in turn, has evden eve nakliyat been reformulated to become XHTML 1.0 in 2000. You should also know that HTML should only be used for structure and CSS be used as its presentational layer.

    Web design and development education standardization is one of the things I’d be pushing for in my Web standards advocacy. Education starts in the school. And, if teachers do not know what to teach their students, no advancement would ever happen. In my humble opinion, this principle of educational advancement doesn’t only apply in Web education.

    We are still in the process of talking about forming a formal Web standards organization in the Philippines. If you feel the same way as I do in this blog entry, and love to fight for Web standards compliance, join us in our discussions to help save the Web and its users—for interoperability, accessibility, validity, and semantics.

  • Musing #0013

    Haven’t Microsoft realized how bad the analogy of their new mission campaign to the operating system could be? I see it as, life without walls : computer without firewalls. They also use a big-ass Windows logo hole on a wall as the background image. Windows as holes = the perfect symbolism.

  • Open MSO 2007 Files in Earlier Versions

    I personally prefer the older version of Microsoft Office 2003 than the newer MSO 2007.[1] I have classmates who use the newer version on their Vistas, but I still work on documents, spreadsheets and presentations on my MSO 2003 with a Windows XP. In a situation like this where group projects and collaborative works are a necessity to get things done, and a non-ideal working environment of different computers with different software,[2] I happily share a solution for those people who cannot just give up an older licensed copy for a cracked upgrade.

    Microsoft Office 2007 has a multitude of changes compared to the earlier versions. It doesn’t have the standard menu-and-toolbar environment we are used to be working on, but a general-purpose Office button and the Ribbon of the new Fluent User Interface. It also comes with a set of new file formats from the Office Open XML specification, primarily the .docx, .xlsx and .pptx file formats. Using ZIP compression, these new file formats are a lot smaller than the old formats[3] MSO 2003 or earlier versions create.

    If you still have your Microsoft Office version at 2000, XP (2002) and 2003, you may want to install the Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats. This will enable you to open, edit, and save documents, workbooks, and presentations in the file formats new to Microsoft Office Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007. You just need to update to the latest service packs for those earlier versions. There are, however, some document element differences you may encounter while working on a newer file format with an older application version.

    Footnotes:

    1. ^ especially because I know a bug I still haven’t had news about being fixed.
    2. ^ or software versions.
    3. ^ .doc, .xls and .ppt, respectively.

  • WordCamp Philippines 2008

    This was the first ever WordCamp in the Philippines, thanks to the Mindanao Bloggers who organized it. I wasn’t able to resist going even when I have classes on a Saturday especially since Matt was coming.

    With the backdrop

    Midnight before the event, after I’ve finished making a presentation for an oral group report for school, I hurriedly composed a letter I wished Matt Mullenweg would sign. I slept through the night, but woke up a little later than I hoped for.

    I was actually thankful the event was held on a place easily accessible from Las Piñas. Arriving at the De La Salle College of Saint Benilde, I immediately saw Shari on her black WordCamp volunteer shirt. We entered the auditorium and looked for Lexie. With her red hair I haven’t seen before, we walked past her and Dre looking like idiots searching for someone in front of everybody. Heh.

    I brought Azusa with me, and blogged right after I’ve sat beside Lexie. She convinced me into signing up with Plurk. And so far, I’ve enjoyed Plurking that I wish you guys would join, too. 😀

    Lauriat

    After the introduction, breakaway sessions took place. I was with Lexie and Dre all those times, and we ate a bountiful lunch from Chowking together afterwards.

    That’s when we ambushed Matt for autographs. I remember he laughed when I told him, “I didn’t come to school today. Will you sign my excuse letter?” Haha! It was great! The geek in me became happy. 🙂

    Plenary sessions came, and Matt talked about the future of WordPress. That reminds me, I still haven’t upgraded my installation yet! Uh, anyway, I consider WordPress 2.7 be Matt’s birthday gift for me on November. 😆 Upgrades are promising as always, and I’m looking forward to the new version.

    Last photo

    The topic of Web standards was a part of the plenary sessions, all thanks to Shari and Sir Regnard. The geek in me was even happier. 😉

    After the event, I’ve met up with fellow standardistas Ia and Mae to talk with Shari and Lexie how we’d start the group Web Standards Philippines again. Let’s set the meetings already! 😀

    Some more picture-taking took place afterwards. I’ve posted them on my Flickr. 🙂

    It was fun. See everyone at the next WordCamp Philippines! 2009 maybe? 😛

  • Nearing the end of WordCamp

    Matt signs

    We ambushed Matt earlier to have him sign my excuse letter and take some photos. Lexie told me I looked like a child on Christmas morning while Matt is signing my letter. 😀

    With Sir Regnard

    I’m so happy that Web standards was included as a topic in one of the talks specifically by Regnard Raquedan. And I was actually surprised he mentioned me and my blog. Now, I somehow feel pressured to post something about Web standards again. 😛 We are planning to have a meeting later for the Web Standards Philippines group, and I really hope it would again get things going. Thanks Sir Regnard! 😀